January 27, 2010

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Chris Matthews has put his foot in his mouth before on live television, and after the State of the Union, he did it again.

"I forgot he was black tonight for an hour," Matthews said of President Barack Obama's speech before a joint session of Congress and to millions of Americans.

Matthews's line about Obama's skin color was part of a longer comment about the presidency and race that's below. [UPDATE: Matthews also clarified later on.]

I was trying to think about who he was tonight. It's interesting: he is post-racial, by all appearances. I forgot he was black tonight for an hour. You know, he's gone a long way to become a leader of this country, and passed so much history, in just a year or two. I mean, it's something we don't even think about. I was watching, I said, wait a minute, he's an African-American guy in front of a bunch of other white people. And here he is president of the United States and we've completely forgotten that tonight — completely forgotten it. I think it was in the scope of his discussion. It was so broad-ranging, so in tune with so many problems, of aspects, and aspects of American life that you don't think in terms of the old tribalism, the old ethnicity. It was astounding in that regard. A very subtle fact. It's so hard to talk about. Maybe I shouldn't talk about it, but I am. I thought it was profound that way.

Still, that single line quickly bounced around Twitter and the blogosphere, along with widespread criticism of Matthews on the left, on the right and in between.

The Matthews comment was met immediately on Twitter with both confusion and contempt, and later "Chris Matthews" became a top trending topic.

The New Republic's Michael Crowley wrote: "Huh?" with The Huffington Post's Jason Linkins asking, "W to the F?"

Meanwhile, The American Prospect's Adam Serwer offered a terse response to the Matthews line: "F--- You." The Washington Independent's Spencer Ackerman wrote that the MSNBC host should "get off the air." And from the The Joshua Blog: "He needs to be gone from @MSNBC for good. Enough already."

Another Harry Ried moment. race bating has always been a tool for the left. But comments like these from the left are typical, and always meant in praise. HUH? When you read the transcript it says what? prior to today Chris Matthews saw the man through the color of his skin and NOT the calibur of his character. It is the typical contradiction of a lefty do as i say not as i do,

I actually watch his show just to see how crazy he is and of course I like Pat Buchanan. How much longer is MSNBC gonna keep him, Olberman and Maddow on the air. Their ratings are awful. They can't be making any money for the network.

Matthews and his cadre of liberal frauds are the only ones consistently pointing out Obama's race. Get a life Chris -- I'm worried about the color of the gray matter between his ears than the color of his skin. In fact, he could be purple with pink polka dots and I would still be angry at his destructive policies. Chris get off the skin color -- you are the true racist Mr. Matthews!

I like Chris, but this was a dumb comment. The problem is MSNBC is using their journalists and commentators over time. I'd be burnt out too if I had to talk about politics the entire night. They need to bring some more faces to MSNBC.

i can understand where many of you are coming from but chris matthews was pointing out a fact. why is it racist to say someone is black or white? he basically said that given the countries challenges, president obama stood on that stage and delivered a message to the american people and in the pyche of an overwhelming majority of americans watching, they didn't preoocupy themselves with his color, ethnicity. its natural to see someone and say he is black or white. its natural. we are all different and we should embrace it.

I have never seen such a fawning fascination by a "supposed" reporter than Matthews over Obama. First, his leg tingles and now, he is so enamored with a speech he "forgets he's black". What's up with this guy? Is he playing with a full deck?

People don't understand that Matthews has a REAL problem.....He has a profound and dangerous challenge with Attention Deficit. People with ADD often talk over others and blurt out statements quicker than their brain can process it. It's a form of self stimulation which he practices to stay attentive. His mind races and he has trouble concentrating. The guy is a "case study" for Attention Deficit. Watch him interact with guests. He asks questions...does not wait for the response and moves on. People view this as "crass" or "rude". It's neither. He needs to get treatment to understand "why" he does what he does. That will help him from appeaaring to be the village idiot.

The comment about forgetting Obama was black was an astute way into the broader point Chris was making. President Obama has brought a dignity to the office that transcends petty racism and other archaic notions of white superiority which have divided the country. There was nothing wrong with Chris's comments. He eloquently described what he longs to see in America - a post-racial society.

I'm not astounded that I forget he's black. That just happens to me naturally, when I'm not concerning myself with someone's race. In the same vein, I do tend to notice when someone's an empty shirt. That's harder to overlook.

Matthews had me fooled a couple of days ago when he started almost acting like a journalist...or something akin to a journalist. I thought maybe his sanity had returned...guess I was wrong. This race garbage has to go.

I used to watch Chris on occasion, but once he made that thrill up the leg comment I knew he had gone completely off the deep end. It was also at that moment I finally understood why some people refer to television as the 'Idiot Box'.

Chris is just a liberal and they are obsessed with this race thing (not to mention gender, sexual orientation and others). It's beyond comprehension. The rest of us normal people, including conservatives pay it no mind. Liberals are just weirdos, until we all come to realize that we will never repair race relations in this country which are just fine until a liberal enters the room.

I think many people misunderstood what Matthews was saying. A year ago the US made history by electing the first black president of the US. Tonight it wasn't a black man who had made history by becoming president. Tonight he was just our president.

very discouraging comments from the most of you sorry losers. the only ones who have it right are jsk and chris himself .sorry if i missed anyone else who's not a racial bigot . in the context of chris's comment he ,chris has it it right.

Race never comes up in a normal conversations until a liberal noses in and reminds everyone one of their race/gender/sexual preference. What is their obsession. The word racist never enters a conversation until a liberal has to add their two cents worth in then it will turn into a racial war. These people are just destructive, pure and simple. Liberals seem to destroy everything they tough.

I just wish people would realize that it's always some leftie cook inflicting race into a conversation. It's like they are baiting people to throw out racist comments. How well is race relations in this country....not good. How well would race relations be if we got rid of the liberal race baiters? People would be answering "what race".

Chris Matthews never got over the 50's. He obsesses about Ike, The Lettermen, the sisters at his Catholic school and all the other squarish things defines those Leave it To Beaver years, including his views on race. He is too out of touch for television and should gracefully exit--he deeply embarrassed me tonight.

The entire MSNBC team has been in shock since the Mass. Senate race. They should be forgiven, particularly Chris who acutally spent many years tracking Mass. political trends. The partisan left is having real trouble with the drift this White House is guilty of. Overall the speech was spotty. At times it didn't seem like a SOTU address.

Guess that's what antebellum plantation owners used to say about their black slave mistresses to their pals over mint juleps on the porch: Wow, she's so good in bed with the lights off that I almost forget she's black.

Matthews is somehow stuck in the most repulsive and morally obscene mentality that has ever existed in the United States, one that is indefensible on any level and repudiated by all decent human beings. He needs to be vigorously shunned by all people of goodwill for his continuing in the evil manner of thinking he displayed tonight.

I heard Chris Matthews make an off the cuff comment about the evolution of the prejudices we all have felt. I took it as a positive observation, one that he hoped other formerly prejudiced people might share. Let us not stifle honest expression by missinterpreting its meaning into something hateful.

He forgot becasuse he was "clean" and didn't speak "black" Chris is a racist and anti female. He's always referring to "all the white guys" How many black guys are on is MSNBC in a meaningful way? He's no better than Reid. I hope Sharpton gets on his case. I sure Obama will accept this remark as comliment?

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that none of those offended bloggers are black. Well I am, and I say give Matthews a break. For Christ sakes, it IS remarkable that just one year after this country elects its first black president, his race has become incidental. Grow up, people.

You "double standard" ones who are trying to bury Chris Matthews for his commments, are defending Rush Limbaugh.
I guess the radio show last week when Rush was trying to "empathize" with Jewish bankers who were under target by Barak Obama. He was speaking in "code", a code he knows too well. Let's face it, one is a liberal who is racist but doesn't mean to be, he's trying. (CM) The other is a blatant bigot who uses his bigot loving audience to make him milllions of dollars. (RL) At least (CM) is trying, (RL) is using race to make him more money.

Seriously Chris,
I thought we had accomplished in 2008 that our president would be black. Yet here in 2010 you forget? Personally I think you are a racist and cant accept the fact that someone outside of the white race can be in charge. Personally I think that NBC as a whole needs to get rid of you.

Right on Chris, I also became so engrossed in his speech that race totally dropped out - and I applaud his attempt to put partisanship behind commitment to country. As an ex cop, what I hate is this phony political correctness that refrains from mentioning the race of a suspect - how stupid !!!!!!! We have a president who happens to be black - geez it's nice to be able to acknowledge what I see.

It's no secret that the commentators are MSNBC are rampant racists. They make this painfully obvious when they blindly call people who disagree with them racists; it's a textbook Level 2 defense mechanism, psychological projection.

u know i guess i should feel guilty that i was thinking the same thing. remember that obama is probably the most powerful non 100% white person in centuries probably.....maybe longer.....its a big deal and not only that but hes the leader of our time possibly. if he gets some good stuff through the dems and america are in good shape.

Probably should not have said this but he might not have been saying it in a negative way. I can understand that he might have been saying that we as a country, many of us, are moving beyond the mindset that Obama is a "black" president and just maybe we are seeing him as our president and forgetting about the "black or white". While watching the speech tonight, there was one shot taken looking down the aisle from almost floor level. You could see just a far-away view of Obama and at that moment I thought of Frederick Douglas and the impact he had on Lincoln and this nation's history. Then I thought, hey this is a black man and he is the president. What a remarkable accomplishment for this country. Maybe Chris Mathews had a similar moment but did not communicate it properly.

Posted By: Probably should not have said this but he might not have been saying it in a negative way. I can un | January 28, 2010 at 01:19 AM

Of course liberals are racist. They keep blacks and other minorities in a dependent state with cash and "opportunties" to fail so that they can keep them where they want them; in the tank. Motormouth Matthews did it again. Now you know!

I am not a democrat using race, as a matter of fact I am a republican. Although Matthews probably could have used better language in what he was trying to convey I don't think his message was intended to be racist whatsoever. What he was saying in context was absolutely true one did "forget he President Obama was black" during his speech. Not in that he was only seen as a "black person" before the SOTU, but that once again during his speech he was able to transcend race and the preconceived negative notions of race some still hold in this country. Although I do disagree with many of the president's positions I believe (as demonstrated in the speech) he obviously has an immense intellect and a particular talent in communicating with people. These are the skills that allow him to transcend race, and the reasons why I think he was electable in a country that in many cases still holds much racial tensions.

I hope all the African Americans can realize they just saw another dose of liberalism and how liberals really feel about you.
When it comes to Obama, We Republicans see a politician who who is President. We may not like his policies but that's politics. Liberals see you first and foremost by the color of your skin. Think about that.

Why the fascination with what Chris Matthews' sexual orientation is, the one constant with most of the negative replies are the constant use of derogatory language describing gays. Sounds like alot more people need to see American Beauty

Chris Matthews really says some strange things, but I think he says what other people think and DON'T say, out of fear of a backlash. I really believe that he was making an interesting and provocative point with obtuse language. He's acidic and abrasive and has a tendency to eat his feet, but I think he's one of the best, smartest political commentators on television. Too bad we're all so eager to be offended.

Listen to the words, watch the actions, judge the person. Left or Right you both fear the same thing, that you might be racist. Lefties talk about it to show they are sensitive to it and want people to know they are not racist. Rights hide it away for fear if they speak of it someone might think they are it. In general people are afraid of being seen as racist on both sides. So relax, we are all more alike than you would like to think. We live, love, and die.

"He's NOT black. He's half white. But I guess to mention that is racist! The days of cirque de obama are numbered."
Why do people keep saying this?The correct answer is that he's both "black" and "white" at the same time.

Chris Matthews is a fine example of someone who should have been aborted. And I am against abortions, but there is always an exception to everything. Just think he gets paid well for comments like this!!

Actually, it is unfortunate that so many of you are so quick to criticize Matthews. He was making an observation. This black president was talking to the same government who had implemented an institutionalized racism in all of its bureaucracy deliberately and illegally to deny people of color equality in every facet of their lives for most of the last century. Furthermore, Obama should worry about how he is received seeing as in spite of his straight talk and complete disclosure of his motives to the people and media somehow he absorbs accusations of being socialist, muslim, or having some supreme power motivation all of which is being perpetuated in circles that tend to stereotype a black person's values as having a deficit or questioning his or her patriotismAs a black man I often wonder when race is playing a role in my affairs and how it is being done. It is a burden and I'm sure I misinterpret, but it is necessary to have this process if your black. I think it is a relevant observation matthews had in that in the very recent past a black man could not talk to white people in such a critical manner. It would have been deemed preposterous and remains that way in some circles. I mean c'mon a black man calling out billionaire bankers on how to ethically conduct themselves, asserting what America should stand for, and criticizing the highest levers of power? It is profound. Especially, when I can walk outside of my apartment where I've lived for years and still manage to startle everyone I pass by or force someone to double check if they have locked their car door.

I am not a Mathews fan or a Harry Reid fan and MSNBC can't flush itself down the toilet fast enough for me, but what Mathews said was honest and accurate.
One of the great things about Barak Obama's presidency is that it fundamentally ended class racism in America.
Of course individual racism will always exist; all of us have some to a lot of it within us. If you are Irish or Nigerian or Chinese or a native American, we all feel better being with our own kind. It's human nature and doesn't mean we hate everyone who isn't like us. Quite frankly in my experiences the people yelling racist the loudest are the ones harboring the most hate in their hearts.
President Obama is black, president Kennedy was Catholic and someday we are going to have a woman as president. And it won't be misogynist to simply say she's the president.
Quite frankly is ****es me off that we keep making believe we live in 1950's Mississippi when it comes to racial candor today.
Get over it fools.

That joke of a political team over at MSNBC should all go----especially Olberman, the absolute worst. Chris whines and gets tingles up his legs. Ewwww. No wonder that station has lost it's credibility.

It's people you, who live to spin who make this country a horrible place to live in, you try to ruin anything good, this comment was NOT racist, it was merely his commentary, which is what he's paid to give COMMENTARY.

What a stroke of genius. If Chris hadn't of popped off with this remark, no one would even remember he was on the air on that left-wing show...good one...I'll remember MSNBC for maybe an hour...or perhaps only a minute...well its back to Fox News for me! And yes, Chris, Obama is still black.

The liberals prove time and again they are the true racists for they continually bring skin color and race to the conversation.
Matthews is just another idiot liberal shooting his mouth off and making race an issue.

Do you people ever stop to consider that the Republicans are the true racists. This is why they don't and won't support anything president Obama brings to the table. They feel inferior to such an intelligent and well spoken man--no matter what his racehe might be. It is obvious by the comments posted here, the most of you get your news knowledge from Hannity, Beck,Limbaugh, and O'Reilly.

It's a stupid comment, plain and simple, and it's not surprising to me that it came out of Matthews' mouth. Outside of some loons on both fringes ( left and right ), what people like Matthews fail to realize is that the overwhelming majority of Americans simply don't think along the terms of black or white any longer. We think along the terms of competence. As in Harry Reid's case, if you consciously think about things like this, then you are in fact a separatist or racist. You're a relic from another time. Thankfully, both Reid's and Matthews' generation is literally near an end. My kids don't think in terms of black and white and I don't think they ever will. Racism and bigotry are taught to children by adults. As these people die off, so too will the last simmering vestiges of racism.

There is only one race, the human race. So if anyone is truly a racist don’t they actually hate themselves? Everything else is just ethnicity. And with all the inter "racial" relationships we have and the children born from them, one day the entire planet will have roughly the same skin tone, hair color and eye shape. MAYBE then we can all stop hating each other for no good reason.

What a mix of comments. Further evidence of how divided we are as a nation, and how eager people seem to be to find fault with "the other side". This young President is trying to begin the 30-years of cleaning up needed becasue of the recent leaders produced by our polluted political process - and elected by people who can't think for themselves.

Chris Matthews needs to forget he is white for at least an hour while he tries to figure out what is wrong with him that he can say crap like this and believe it is some profound and enlightened statement.

Most of us do not need to "forget" Barack Obama is black to feel good about him being President. It does not matter to anyone who is not a former racist.
What does matter, is that he is a bland, weak and dishonest man who is steering the sinking ship that is the Democratic party.

MSNBCs Chris MaTTheWs IS bEyOnD TwIsTeD! Its seriously nauseating HeArInG this CrAp OvEr & oVeR & OvEr AgAiN, i.e., Obama is black. BiG EffeN DeaL. ShUt the FrOnT DooR, already, Matthews. SeRiOuSly. MSNBCs mAtthEws IS seriously DeRaNgEd. He IS sooo flippin oLd school. Matthews comments are Insulting & Appalling. MORE AppaLLinG, ITS FLiPPiN Twenty-Ten (2010) AND ObAmA is the FiRsT (1st) black, white AmErIcAn elected President. That’s Appalling! MaTThEws warped mentality reminds EvErYoNe that back in the day, there were WaaaaaY 2 MaNy MaTThEws minded pEEps. Flippin TwIsTeD eNeRgY NOT found iN the MaJoRiTy; and, Chris Matthews is the MiNoRiTy. 2 BeTTeR dAyS. ciao.

People, people, People...enough already. I am "Black" and I didn't see anything racial in what Chris said. If anything it leads praise to the fact that he says President Obama as just that, "President Obama" pure and simple. Lets face it folks, while we celebrate this momentous occasion, we need to focus more on getting this country out of debt, getting people back to work, ensuring there are education benefits for our children, ensuring EVRY American has affordable healthcare, not the fact that our President is Black! Thats a wonderful accomplishment for Black America, but believe me as a Black man with 3 young black children I want this country in the right direction again and I wouldn't care if the President was Black, White, Red, Green, or Blue; just get it going.

"I forgot he was black tonight for an hour."
Hmmm, I wonder at exactly what point did Chris find himself shocked back into reality... and at that point did his legs start tingling wildly, or did the thrill come to a crashing halt?

That's the problem with being white and full of guilt----you are stuck between a rock and a hard place. One one hand you think, "I need to really show people that I am post-racial, so I'll pretend his race doesn't exist. Look at me! I am colorblind!" But on the other hand you think, "I can't be colorblind, because then I am not acknowledging his race and the struggles that have come with it....but by noticing his race, I will be accused of not being colorblind! What do I do?"
Guilty as charged.

What Matthews said about Obama was not racist since he says it with so much love and admiration. What was racist was when he said that a black man stood there in front of all the white men, meaning that that man was superior to everybody white.....I thought we were all equal! Matthews is not racist toward blacks he is racist toward whites!

Remember the mini series, "Roots"? "Toby's a good n****r"
Guess since this quote praises Toby as being a good black slave, this can not be considered rascists huh? Just using the circular logic used by those who blinldy support C.M., H. Reid, et al.

The fact that he mention that he forgot that he was black shows remembers that he remembers that he's black. Sort of reminded me of Barbara Boxer with the Climate Change incident with the black businessman. The democrats condescend to the black population and entrap them with social progams. If the dems were truly color blind the topic would not need to be mentioned.

Posted By: The fact that he mention that he forgot that he was black shows remembers that he remembers that he' | January 28, 2010 at 07:13 AM

I can't stand Mathews but I don't think what he said was racist. I think he was pointing out that if you look at the history of this country - the racism, slavery, Jim Crow, civil rights...... it is a historical moment. We all know that Mathews has a man crush on Obama. It is a good thing that most of us don't look at Obama's race but you can't erase the historical fact that 100 years ago or 40 years ago it would not have seemed possible.

The stupidity of this comment is only outdone by the stupidity of all those here who think this comment merits some sort of response. The longer "context" for the stupid comment makes it appear more stupid, not less. The insult is not to black people but to the nation, as it shows Christ Mathews implying he, but not the rest of us, can put aside race. In fact he cannot put aside race, and neither apparently can all those on the left who want to make his comment an issue.
Finally, as even John Stewart seems to realize, Mathews is nowhere near the top of the target rich "they ought to go" list of MSNBC.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-january-25-2010/obama-speaks-to-a-sixth-grade-classroom

Now you know which party harbors racists, from Reid, Clinton and Biden all being closet racists, this is common place in the party. They sell victim hood and dependence with their condensing handouts with strings attached just for votes and donations always taking African Americans for granted.

i think the point that he was making is that people,as a rule do identify in black and white.i don't think anything more was meant by that.this country has come a long way as far as exceptance of each others-one another's differences as far as origin, in the last year.but we still have a long way to go.he shouldn't have worded the sentence as he did.simply a poor choice of words.but he also did a good job of explaining himself at the same time trying not to give *others something to make it even Worse when taken out of context.sure,chris will get a *Roasting this week.we had haiti..then the pres. address.now chris............................bless u all.

Actually, MSNBC got it right. Obama is not black, he is white. After his black father abandoned him, he was raised by his white mother and white grandmother. Obama is the first half-black president. As for the rest of what MSNBC puts out there, getting rid of that network would put a major dent in the pollution in this country.

awwwh chrissy what's so wrong with beign black like me that you have to forget that's some is black to say something good. Quick Obama speak in that Negro dialect that you can do at will to remind chrissy who you are, even though you werent raised with anyone who spoke with the 'negro" dialect.

Because Chris Matthews spoke the truth is this the reason for all the profanity and name calling. Let's face it people you are not color blind, you just don't want to be labled a racist. Name calling , profanity equal TRUTH and ANGER. STOP FOOLING AND LYING TO YOURSELVES

Chris (tingly in the legs) Matthews is a prime example of why more and more people are turning off to the liberal view of politics. Those of us who are no longer drinking the Liberal Kool Aid of the Democrats now in charge of the party view Matthews as a poster boy for the political blindness of these liberal elites. Most people oppose Obama not because he is black as Liberal pundits like Matthews seem to assume. Nor do we care what race he is. We are against him and the Liberal Democrats in charge of Congress because they have the wrong ideas about what the American people really want!
BCP (http://beercanpolitics.blogspot.com)

Much ado about nothing!!! Chris's comments were clearly annotating how far we as a country have come in equality. If you were offended, then you have an agenda, are insighting division, or simply looking for attention in victimization.

Technically he's not black, he's mulatto. Half black, half white. I believe the "black" designation for Obama is one based on how the census is run, where if someone is half black they are classified as "black" in order to boost the number of blacks in the census. So, maybe Matthews forgot he was black because genetically he really isn't black. One thing he is for sure though is tiresome and boring, but I don't think that gets measured by the census.

One day we shall all be free. As a black man I think about Obama's race all the time...hoping he's the best president ever, so that now we know a black man can be president, we also confirm that a black man can be a great president. I pray that a black man with two black parents later becomes president, so nobody says that he could do it b/c he was part white. So it doesn't bother me that Chris Matthews, who I generally find refreshingly honest and transparent in his discussions about race, remarks that for a brief moment he forgot about Obama's race. I pray we make it so far as a people (human race) that I can too--for atleast an hour.

I agree with Chris Matthews. I'm a white male who has spent considerable time over the past 30 years fighting injustice's against minorities in our country. Only someone who has a truly non-biased heart can understand what Chris is saying when it comes to race and President Obama.

Liberal boomers are so racist. It colors everything for them. Check out the origins of the school mascot on the TV show Community. It hits the nail on the head regarding these race obsessed liberal baby boomers.

How much more evidence is needed before the black community is able to admit that we are viewed as nothing more than a "race" and a assured voting block for the Democratic Party. It's an insult. If Matthews were a Conservative, and talked about race as much as as he does, for sure he would be criticized. He is obsessed with color. Thank God, I have seen the light and realize the best candidate I can vote for is one who sees me as an American citizen. I don't want to let the cat out of the bag, but that is not the Party of the first black President.

What is the fuss all about?? It's clear from reading his comments (and knowing his great admiration for Obama), that he was talking about something very positive in the history of the USA: A moment of awareness that colour was subservient to substance. The external look of any person should be subordinate to the power of their humanity. In this,we can all see each other as equals, not better nor worse than one another,
All color and external feature fades as the truth of the person becomes vivid and communicated. Afterall, the rainbow is included in the clear light of sky. Let's really get POST racial!

Matthews has a very bizarre obsession with race. I'll never forget him saying that if black and white kids dated more all of the world's problems would go away. He's plain weird.
Go watch some interracial porn, Matthews, and leave the rest of us alone.

If a Republican said that they would be called a racist. So, normally when he watches Obama Matthews just thinks about the fact that Obama is black? If I were speaking with him would he just think about the fact that I am female. He has gotten soooo strange!!

The story and the reaction to this is ridiculous. I can not stand Matthews but what I really hate is how hypersensitive people are when it comes to race...Some of you morons out there act as if Matthews killed a baby.
So , stop hyperventilating and stop acting like drama queens.

I'm sorry but Chris Matthews is just an idiot. This comment is right up there with Chris getting a tingling feeling in his leg. It's time to end this metrosexual psychobabble. Being black, being from the south side of Chicago means nothing. Obama's the president and I was looking for him to demonstrate he's a leader and a lot more than a tingle in Matthews's pantleg. The comment and the speech get the pantload award.

Reid, Biden, Matthews...liberals are not, should not be exempt from being held accountable for their purely racist remarks. It doesn't save you on the street if you call yourself a democrat or a liberal and you spout off such ignorant comments.

What has happened to Chris Matthews in the last several years. At one time I thought he was objective....but not now. Is it possible "for a moment" he forgot he was married and now is secretly in love with a black man. O my God not that!

When the camera panned the chamber, I saw all the white, straight-backed, straight-faced Republican males, then the Dems side with women and men of all colors,and I was proud of this country for electing Obama. That there are still people who hate based on race was evident in that picture.

poetic justice.
obama is in office to remind us to take our votes seriously.
matthews was used to remind us that what's truly in our hearts eventually gets exposed because it is written just that way::: whatever is hidden will come to light.

Chris Matthews is the kind of white person who keeps a mental note of how many minority friends he has. As a test, ask a friend to tell you how many black friends he/she has. If they answer back immediately with a number, they're in Chris' camp. If they have to sit and think about it for a while, they're with the rest of the evolved human race.

FOR ONE HOUR, MATTHEWS SAY HE REALIZED OBAMA WAS BLACK. AND THEN AFTER ONE HOUR BOOM, CHRIS SAT THERE AND THOUGHT...........WHAT AM I THINKING, THIS IS A BLACKMAN.......AND HE SHOULD BE TREATED LIKE A BLACKMAN.............JUST ONE HOUR CHRIS? SHAME ON YOU BUDDY.

Posted By: FOR ONE HOUR, MATTHEWS SAY HE REALIZED OBAMA WAS BLACK. AND THEN AFTER ONE HOUR BOOM, CHRIS SAT THER | January 28, 2010 at 10:48 AM

I'm a black male, and whenever someone white says something to that effect "I don't see their blackness, I dont' see color, you don't seem black to me..." it has the effect of erasing me. Like I'm clear water or something. You don't have to love black or anything associated with it, just respect me and my culture for who I am. I like Matthews, but positions like his make anything black "wrong" or a "detriment" and has the effect of reinforcing racist notions instead of the multicultural world we seek.

Chris, Pick up a box of dipends. What he's not saying is that he was down on his hands and knees cleaning that "tingle" off of the floor and couldn't look at the screen for a visual. As we know per Harry that TOTUS doesn't talk with a "negro dialect" his words, not mine, Chris must have been confussed as to who he was listening to. Yep, libs aren't racists though they seem to be the ones who always identify people by race. Get over it, my problem with TOTUS is policy, not color. I would vote for a rainbow colored president if he/she governed in a conservative manor upholding the Constitution.
Oh, in Chris' defense, I don't think telepropters have a race, well it may have been made in China :)

Racist! He is saying he gave such a good speech that he forgot he was listening to a black guy. Unbelievable. Although, it is believable that a liberal is spewing racist comments. Liberalism is a mental disorder, just watch MSNBC.

Posted By: Racist! He is saying he gave such a good speech that he forgot he was listening to a black guy. Unbe | January 28, 2010 at 11:05 AM

So, Chris. If you forgot for an hour that he was black, are you saying that the rest of the time you are keenly aware that he is black and you think in term of "old tribalism" and "old ethnicity" when watching him? So much for a post racial president with liberals like you around who can't get past race in your mind.

I want to apologize for my earlier post. I reacted before getting the full picture and understanding the context of his statement. Mr. Matthews is neither a racist nor an idiot, and I do respect him and watch him on MSNBC.

Matthews must wear a diaper to keep that trickle from running down his leg. The pictures very clearly show that Obama is not black but that crazy TV yellow that makes him look like all the other guys that wear that grease paint. This time at least it was more evenly applied and covered his neck completely, however, he seems to have a 5 o'clock shadow the equal of Nixon's. Chrissy looks all peaches and cream.

Posted By: Matthews must wear a diaper to keep that trickle from running down his leg. The pictures very clearl | January 28, 2010 at 11:31 AM

Hi Chris:
I bother to write you because you have sold me on your sincerity. I believe that you will honestly examine a different point of view and if you see the merits, will admit them; even though "a man convinced against his will, is of the same opinion still". However let me try.
Would you consider the possibility that you are an "unconscious" racist?
Why do I say this?
A. You energize the faux paradigm of race.
B. You subscribe to the apartheid concept of American vs African-American. Either a person is American or he is not. Period. Why the distinction?
C. You call yourself a "white guy". You call The President a "black/African-American".
A. By constantly using the media to broadcast your 'outrage' at some obscure insensitive incident of apparent bigotry, you highlight something that many people had not even heard about. By gratuitously declaring your personal surprise that you had forgotten that in his State of The Union Address, the main speaker was an "African-American", were you not sounding an alarm to many who may have made peace with this benign fact?
B. By hosting your upcoming series "Race in America" (I think I may have gotten the title wrong) are you not somehow keeping the flame of the race paradigm alive?
C. Do you not consider the scientific fact that there are no "white" people nor "black" people? That The use of these terms are code words. That "black" or it's latinized equivalent "negro" or the slang synonym "******" are expressions of subliminal contempt. Even when used by the target? And that "white" is simply a code word for "opposite of black" ? The true meaning of a word is not the dictionary definition. It is the SENTIMENT behind it. "Ugly" as a description carries a sentiment of disapproval. There is no redemption in that word. Similarly, "black" as used about people, has no redemption. If given a choice no one would volunteer to be called black And no one is. "Black" is not an objective description. My shes are black. Few people have back skin. Dark brown or light brown or pale, yes. but not black. So the word has a hidden intention. And we are so used to it that it sits in the vernacular like toxic waste destroying the humanity of victim and victimizer for generations.
Chris, I do not mean to give you a lesson in awareness. I just want you to know, that many people see through your behavior. I seldom see this focus on The Ed Show, for instance. So, you do NOT have to keep piling it on. Thanks.

Posted By: Hi Chris:
I bother to write you because you have sold me on your sincerity. I believ | January 28, 2010 at 11:32 AM

People are still shocked that the nexus of racism is on the Left? Who else is so concerned with what a person is rather than who he is? Dr. King would be saddened by their continual focus on skin, gender and orientation.

Stop watching the egotistic slobberer months age. MSNBC would be better viewed w/o him. Now is the time to replace him with someone else. Should try to woo Shepherd Smith from Fox or put someone civil like Chuck Todd in his stead.

Try any other label in that sentence and it exposes the idiocy of Matthews' remark:
"I forgot he was Southern tonight for an hour."
"I forgot he was Asian tonight for an hour."
"I forgot he was Hispanic tonight for an hour."
"I forgot he was a Christian tonight for an hour."
"I forgot he was Jewish tonight for an hour."
"I forgot he was white tonight for an hour."
"I forgot he was stupid tonight for an hour."

If you read your comments Mr. Calderone and are wondering why there are so many two line ghost comments look at your posting feature because the comments box cuts out after several sentences and does not come up with those sentences again.

Posted By: If you read your comments Mr. Calderone and are wondering why there are so many two line ghost comme | January 28, 2010 at 11:51 AM

Wow! This guy is a racist and is too blind to see that his race based few people has become a joke. I almost expected him to say "not bad for a light colored Negro" or the speech was delivered without talking Black or a few years "ago he would be bringing us coffee".
I used to watch Hardball before Matthews went insane. MSNBC has just gotten so out of touch with viewer that I have to wonder why they get any attention at all. Nobody watches them anymore and the only time we know what was said is in blogs like this.

I regularly watch Chris' show and don't think he has a racist bone in his body!! I actually heard the comment at the moment he first made it and he prefaced that it might be controversial to some before he said it. Right or wrong, competence does seem to promote colorblindness.

Posted By: I regularly watch Chris' show and don't think he has a racist bone in his body!! I actually heard t | January 28, 2010 at 12:01 PM

How long would any sportscaster remain employed who remarked about a black quarterback having a great game: "I forgot he was black tonight for a couple of hours..."
But Matthews will survive. Disgusting double standard.

It wasnt a racist comment, it was taken out of context....He was simply saying what most Americans would say if he did act "too black". I think Americans think the race thing is in the past just because he is President well I have a mixed son and he looks "white with a tan" and he is classified as gifted so is very intellectual and I have noticed that some people cant tell he is mixed and when they find out they do treat him differently. They dont always treat him differently but a lot of times they do so I understand what Matthews is saying. He is simply saying the truth.

It really is staggering - one of the earlier comments pointed out that basically Chris Matthews thinks of Obama as black, and for an hour there he was not. Like Obama was so magical, he didnt even seem black. What a fool. What an embarassment. How low can MSNBC go with the Olbermann idiocy surrounding Brown in Massachusets still simmering. Who is the a-hole that runs that network? He should be fired right now. And I do know that i don't need to watch - but the reality is these guys have tremendous reach, as idiotic as they are and i just think MSNBC is one of the worst run organizations on the planet.

I don't really think there was anyting wrong with what he said. I think that people saying he shouldn't say things like that are ignoring the issue, that race is on peoples mind. If people didn't think it an issue than it would have been inappropriate but sadly, race is an issue with the majority of Americans. To flat out ignore something that seems to be the basis of such a big part of people's opinion on every decision he makes and who he is as a president, (while in reality it's totally insignificant to the job) would be silly. I think in a very poorly executed way, he was trying to say that we are witnessing Obama transcending race. This is in fact why he was voted in. So yes, race is irrelevant to the job he is doing, but it is not irrelevant to how people think of him and view him, and though that is quite sad, it is the truth. I am not mad at Matthews, I just don't think he is the sharpest knife in the drawer. This is a step along the path to racism becoming obsolete. These comments actually help because they stimulate conversation and debate on the much larger issue of racism and it will never go away by just ignoring it. By being politically correct and letting the "filter" in our heads stop these comments. Ignoring the fact that some people feel this way simply because of a persons skin colour will never help us move past the issue.

Describe any situation with youself and another person, the add "I forgot he/she was black" on the end. There is not one scenario that will sound appropriate.
Mathews is out of touch with America, just check his ratings! He should be fired!!!!

I'm not going to make a long winded response, like I could and like I probably should, but.... I am not a Rush fan, however, if it had been him or any Fox news analyst or reporter that made that comment, there would have been riots and cries to lynch them as well as have them fired from their jobs!.... Now YOU tell me there isn't a liberal bias in the media and a fear among the population about not being "politacally correct" when it comes to what and how something is said bout the black community!?!?!?

OBAMA IS THE WORST PREISDENT IN THIS COUNTRY. I TOLD SO DOTN VOTE FOR HIM LOOK AT WHAT HAPEN- HILLARY IS THE EBST PRES. THUR THE HELP OF HER HUSBAND DUH. PEOPEL SUFFER; DONT PUT THE GUY IN OFFICE ESPECIALLY DOTN HAVE EXPERIENCE. NOW U LEARN LESSON NEVER AGAIN THE BLACK GUY BECOME PRES,I WANT CLINTON BACK(HILLARY)

I guess the guy was saying it like it was supposed to be a compliment not to be black! Just like Reid, he's light skined and doesn't have negro dialect.. They are both racist remarks! The Dem continue to keep black schools the least educated.

Hmmm, I agree with Mathews, if you don't look at him when he speaks, you sort of forget he is black, but he has that Africana-echo volcano sacrifice thing going (Close your eyes when he speaks)....but Michelle Obama, I NEVER forget she is black when she speaks!
Political Correctness starts eating the LEFT. Liberals are so NIMBY with minorities, See: Boulder, Portland etc.

I know that but if he get's Bin Laden that will be a line some people will take. I don't see why Obama would want to be president now this worst time to be president. Obama will get it done. As I stated almost two years ago Obama has to be twice as good to win the election now he has to be twice as good as any other of the 44 president. Obama has spent allot of money but what choice did he have. Obama did inherit a lot from Bush and Bush inherited from Clinton and the list goes on. This is the bed Obama made when he made the sacrifice to serve his country as its 44th president. With Obama’s gift of gab and a Harvard Law Degree and being over six feet tall he could have made millions as a trial Lawyer.

REMEMBER he also said obama was in the "enemy camp" when he spoke at West Point.
MSNBC when are you going to fire him???????????
"What luck for rulers that men do not think."
adolf hitler
"A lie told often enough becomes the truth."

Half White half Black. The nurturing, close family ties, housing, food, and culture came from his White and Indonesian relatives. His time in Indonesia involved in the Muslim religion and culture gave him some cross culture experience.
What a GRAND thing for our Nation to have finally arrived at this racial/religion/nationality point.
The problem is that so far he is not doing well. His failures to lead this Nation and the World at one of the most critical times in history goes way beyond race, creed or color.
If he fails, America may never fully recover. If he fails, there is no relationship to failure and race, creed, or color. However, to focus and spin will detract from solving the real problems.
We do not need to discuss race any more in relation to Obama. However, his accomplishments do not negate the massive drop out rate, overwhelming numbers of blacks in prison, and unemployment of black youth. There is no rational argument that the slavery of the Democrat South, and the Jim Crowism feed the disease that the blacks have made huge strides in overcoming.
Obama has made a heroic and historic accomplishment. The last thing we need is for him to go down as one our worst Presidents.

Obama has been POTUS for one year and people still can’t get over an African American President of the USA it is 2010 already get over it. I am sure that Matthews did not mean a black man can’t give a speech in English. Some of the greatest speeches in American history were delivered by African Americans.

This is in reality a mirror comment. Wherever your head is...this comment mirrors that mindset. I'll bet we can take each reaction, find out where that person is on the political spectrum and those who are offended are extreme right or extreme left while those who are not, are in the middle near the center.

To quote Ridgebacack..."As I stated almost two years ago Obama has to be twice as good to win the election"
Only someone with a foolish idea of how our country operates could conceive such a silly idea. I'm certainly not saying the way "IT IS" would be the correct way, but our country doesn't work that way. The fact is Obama had (per 2008 census bureau) 37 million votes in his pocket just because of his race (yes I know not all blacks voted for him).... The Democratic party, being tired of losing, knew this and made sure he was their nomination so they would be able to capture the White House. He is an excellent speaker and young enough to persuade many of the misinformed youthful voters his way. Combine those things with the die hard yellow dog democrats that still believe the democrat party is the same as it was 80 years ago instead of the New Socialist Party that it has become and you get a political victory. He is unfit, unqualified, in ineligible to be our president!... But here he is... all I hope for is that he doesn't run this great country completely into the ground before 2012 when we can "HOPEFULLY" get someone in there, the senate, and congress that has enough sense, intelligence, and integrity to do the job right!

MSNBC is so biased it makes Al Jazeera seem Fair and Balanced.
The two top buffoons at MSNBC are the most biased people in media, Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann.
Even loony-left liberal comedian Jon Steward has called Matthews a "nut job".
Keith Olbermann, The Most Biased Political Commentator on The Most Biased Loony-Left Liberal Cable Network - is a typical loony-left liberal d-crat TAX CHEAT. So far his warrants, judgments and penalties for TAX CHEATING in California and New York amount to more than $100,000.
MSNBC degrades all of journalism with their endless lies, distortions, half-truths, propaganda and baseless slime attacks all served up with a total absence of journalistic ethics.

Why are people so stupid? Chris was not implying that he is surprised to see a black man so presidential, he was noting the fact that we have finally come to a place where race is not a factor at all in how we evaluate a man. This very presidential man happens to be black and Chris was noting that it took him a while to even remember that last fact. It was really sweet.

Once again, why should race have anything to do with it? Did you ever hear anyone say, I forgot Bush was white? Is he implying that before this, obama has been a racist against whites, and now... obama not sounding black, is all inclusive of whites now, whereas before he wasn't?? I am sure he will say it was taken out of context, like they all do, but some times a "slip" reveals ones true mindset.

Of course he forgot he was Black . He were too busy focussing on that "tingling feeling" he always gets whenever he sees the annointed one. He is also thinking about Obama as described by himself as "the return of Camelot."
Long live King Obama!!!!

Now, now, all you who are upset about matthews' comment. If he had said that he forgot for an hour that obama was a light-skinned african-american without a negro dialect would you forgive him?? Just wondering.

I don't watch Matthews, or care much for him, but this is one case where a commment really is being taken out of context. All the guy was saying is that it's amazing that a Black man is addressing Congress as the President of the United States, and it's perfectly normal. He wasn't talking about Obama's "Blackness" or lack thereof.
Remember when the New Yorker mocked right wingers by portraying Obama in a turban and burning the American flag in the White House? The same liberals freaking out now didn't get that, either.

Chris Matthews knows exactly what he is doing by making controversial comments. In fact I think he does it intentionally. He is such a narcissist that he wants his name "out there" no matter if there is a negative reaction. The point is...the name game and let the world know who you are...a STAR! Well, he's a black hole.

This is what happens when you shout "RACIST" at anyone that doesn't agree with a political agenda to silence them, then show your true self. Not fair is it? First Harry now Chris. He sound so intelligent how could he be black, but I'm sure you meant that as a compliment, right?

Chris Matthews IS a racist because he still thinks in terms of skin color and like the jerk he is, he engages his racist thoughts before his brain can catch up. Why those fools at MSNBC still pay him to be on their pathetic little cable channel is mind boggling, other than the fact that it is a pathetic little cable channel and they can't sell that air time to a slicer dicer infomercial. The few viewers they have are probably about as stupid as Chris Matthews so they are good company to each other. No self respecting channel would hire a moron like Chris Matthews, he stupid people a bad name.

But of course I'm imagining this because liberals love black folks, as long as we do as we're told. And if I disagree how might someone like Chris describe me? I'd be a fool if I didn't recognize it for what it was.

The bulk of Matthews' comment was fine, had he not said "I forgot he was black," which suggests that blacks cannot be eloquent or well spoken - which hints that Matthews himself has some racial issues he needs to get over. He needs to apologize and explain, not just to black Americans but to us all, for assuming that the rest of us see Obama as a black man first. Most of us are not as racist as Matthews evidently is. If the two choices are to either see Obama as a black man, or to see him as the President of the US. Matthews admitted that he just sees a black man - until last nights speech. He should be embarrassed. That said, everyone puts their foot in it from time to time, and Matthews should just learn from this and move on.

How can MSNBC continue to employ their cadre of buffoons? Matthews, Olbermann Buchanan and Maddow are horribly stuck in their whacked out ideologies, while the American people, are, for the most part, middle of the road. I think that they'll all be looking for new gigs, once Comcast takes over the reigns of that failed broadcast entity. Just look at their ratings!!!

It is apparent that besides having that "tingling feeling" up his pants both Obama and Chris No ball Matthews suffer from asevere case of CRS and Clinical Denial... Pity the progressives after 4 Nov 2010!!!